Chronology of American Indian History

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with his followers in tow. The army concludes a
treaty with Spotted Tail and several other Lakota
Sioux, but with Red Cloud’s opposition, the coun-
cil ends with little hope for long-term peace. (See
also entry for JULY 1866.)

July

The U.S. Army establishes forts on the
Bozeman Trail.
To protect the whites traveling along the Bozeman
Trail, the army constructs three military posts—
Fort Reno, Fort Phil Kearny, and Fort C. F. Smith
(see entry for JUNE 1866). The presence of the forts
outrages the Lakota Sioux, Led by war chief Red
Cloud, Lakota warriors vow to battle the troops sta-
tioned at the forts in order to maintain their control
over the region. The series of attacks they stage will
become known as Red Cloud’s War.

September

U.S. officials meet with Confederate-allied
tribes at Fort Smith.
To make a formal peace with the United States, lead-
ers from the Five Civilized Tribes and other groups
that sided with the Confederacy (see entry for SUM-
MER 1861) are called to a conference at Fort Smith,
Arkansas. Called the “Great Father’s [President’s]
erring children” by the commissioner of Indian af-
fairs, the Indian leaders, even those who supported
the Union during the Civil War, are treated as con-
quered peoples.
The U.S. officials demand harsh concessions
from the rebel tribes. They are to sell their lands
in western Indian Territory to the United States,
allow railroads to be build throughout their na-
tions, free their slaves and make them full tribal
members, and accept a territorial government
organized by the United States. Although most
of the leaders passively accept these terms, some,
particularly John Ross of the Cherokee (see entry
for SUMMER 1861 and SEPTEMBER 12, 1862), ob-
ject vigorously to the threat the provisions pose to
tribal sovereignty.

September 1

Navajo (Dineh) leader Manuelito surrenders.

When the U.S. Army waged its campaign against

the Navajo (Dineh) (see entry for JULY 22, 1863),

tribal leader Manuelito and his followers evaded

capture by moving constantly and hiding in moun-

tains and canyons. To the Navajo who surrendered

and were forced to move to Bosque Redondo (see

entry for FEBRUARY TO MARCH 1864), Manuelito

became a potent symbol of resistance.

After three years, unable to fight any longer,

Manuelito and 23 followers are finally forced to

surrender. En route to Bosque Redondo, they are

marched down the streets of Santa Fe as evidence to

area whites of the army’s success in its war against

the Navajo.

December 21

Eighty soldiers are killed in the

Fetterman Fight.

Eighty U.S. troops led by Captain William J. Fet-

terman are stationed at Fort Phil Kearny, located

near present-day Sheridan, Wyoming, to protect

whites traveling on the Bozeman Trail (see entry

for JULY 1866). Disobeying orders, Fetterman leads

“I do not understand how the

massacre of Colonel Fetter-

man’s party could have been

so complete. We must act with

vindictive earnestness against

the Sioux, even to their ex-

termination, men, women and

children. Nothing less will ever

reach the root of the case.”

—General William Tecumseh

Sherman in a letter to his friend

General Ulysses S. Grant